School of Mission and Theology
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SCHOOL OF MISSION AND THEOLOGY STAVANGER, NORWAY BUGANDA CULTURAL RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND RITUALS ENCOUNTERING MODERNITY IN UGANDA. A CASE STUDY OF LUBAGA DIVISION KAMPALA DISTRICT UGANDA BY NAMAALO RASHIDAH MASTER THESIS AS A PARTIAL FULFILLMENT TO THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF THE MASTER’S DEGREE IN GLOBAL STUDIES AT THE SCHOOL OF MISSION AND THEOLOGY, STAVANGER, NORWAY JUNE 2012 1 DEDICATION I dedicate this work to my late father Sheikh Mustafa Maalo and my mother Nalubwama Jemeo Maalo for their moral support through out this study, my lovely husband sheikh Haruna Jemba, my daughter Shahiidah Jemba, my brother Maalo Baker Kakooza and my sister Nalugo Halima Maalo Nanyondo Hamidah. 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Writing a thesis and completing it has been a very great achievement though some times stressing, but I stand to say thanks to the almighty Allah who provided me with the knowledge, understanding, courage wisdom and guidance to accomplish this work successfully. I would also take this opportunity to express my appreciation and great thanks to my tutors, associate professor Gerd Marie Adna and Kari Storstein Haug for their professional and intellectual guidance and they were actually my academic parents while supervising me and with out them it would have been difficult to complete this thesis. My sincere appreciations goes to the school of Mission and Theology in Stavanger for the establishment of the study network with department of religious studies Makerere university through which I was given a scholarship for the masters degree and to all my professors who taught me during my two years at the school of mission and theology I express my gratitude to the Norwegian government (Lanekassen) for providing me with the study opportunity and for the help they offer to the less privileged people. I am sincerely grateful to the department of religious studies, Makerere University for the establishment of the relationship with the school of mission and theology which enabled me to achieve my master’s degree and for their academic foundation laid for me. My heartfelt thanks should be extended to Haji Abdu Katende who is the current head of the department, Dr. Rev. Mederd Rugyendo, Dr. Chris Tuhirirwe, Dr. Robert Bakeine, Dr Lubowa Hasan, Mrs. Namyaalo Sauda, Mrs. Mbabazi Christine Mrs. Nkabala Hellen and Mr. Masembe Edward for their cardinal cooperation and arrangements for my study. Thank you so much may God have mercy on you. My regards goes to the Baganda traditional leaders, elders, youth and traditional healers in Lubaga division who provided me with the required information during my stay in the field and for their cooperation with me during my fieldwork. I extend my sincere gratitude to my father late Sheikh Maalo Mustafa and my mother Nalubwama Jemewo, Nansubuga Jaria and Namusoke Aidah for their struggle to make me 3 attain this educational level, my sisters Nalugo Halima Maalo, Hajjat Nanyondo Hamidah Maalo and my brother Maalo Baker Kakooza plus all my brothers and sisters and the entire family including sheikh Idris Nsereko for their contribution towards my study. I cannot forget to thank all my Norwegian friends and my Uganda friends include Nakibuuka Sulaina, Nanteza Haawa, Nakate Hairat, Nakisekka Fatuma, Ssebbanja Muhammad Ahmed, Kaiwa Idris, Senyomo Abduwahad, Nalunga Rahma, Ntale Jamir Namugga, Meeme, Namudde Zaharah, Kalemba Dalira, Ssempebwa Moses and Nabbanja Hajara Sharon, and Nabukenya Hajara indeed you have been invisible hand and you really contributed much to my study as your company kept me updated in all matters of life. Lastly I would like to thank with all my heart my beloved husband Shk. Jemba Haruna Abdulhamiid. Who usually guided and comforted me in various ways. My daughter Shahiidah Jemba and all my sons and daughters of Jemba family. 4 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS CBS: Central Broadcasting Service. LTA: Luganda Teachers Association. WBS: Wavamunno Broadcasting Service. UBC: Uganda Broadcasting Co-operation. ATR: African Traditional Religion. NRM: National Resistance Movement. FDC: Forum for Democratic Change. UPC: Uganda People’s Congress. DP: Democratic Party. JEEMA: Justice, Education, Economic revitalization, Morality and African unity. KY: Kabaka Yekka. PPP: People’s Progressive Party. 5 TABLE OF CONTENT DEDICATION ........................................................................................................................... 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................................... 3 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................................................... 5 CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................ 8 INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................... 8 1.1 Background of the study .................................................................................................. 8 1.2 The Problem ..................................................................................................................... 9 1.2.1 The statement of the problem .................................................................................... 9 1.2.2 Objectives of the study............................................................................................... 9 1.3 Definitions of key concepts............................................................................................ 10 1.4 Scope of the Study.......................................................................................................... 13 1.4.1 Geographical Scope ................................................................................................ 13 1.4.2 Population Scope..................................................................................................... 13 1.5 Justification and Significance of the Study.................................................................... 14 1.6 Methodology .................................................................................................................. 15 1.6.1 Selection of and access to the Study Area............................................................... 15 1.6.2 Field Ethical Code .................................................................................................. 17 1.6.3 Methods and Tools for Data Collection.................................................................. 17 1.6.4 The Respondents...................................................................................................... 20 1.6.4.1 The Respondents’ Biographical Data............................................................... 20 1.6.4.2 Interaction with respondents ............................................................................ 22 1.6.5 Data Analysis .......................................................................................................... 23 1.6.6 Data Quality Control .............................................................................................. 23 1.6.7 Challenges of the Study........................................................................................... 24 1.7 Brief background of the study area ................................................................................ 25 CHAPTER TWO...................................................................................................................... 27 THEORETICAL PESPECTIVES............................................................................................ 27 2.1 African Traditional Religion .......................................................................................... 27 2.2 Modernity....................................................................................................................... 31 2.2.1 Definition of Modernity........................................................................................... 31 2.2.2 Modernity and Christianity and Islam in Buganda................................................. 33 2.3 Globalization and its impact in Buganda ....................................................................... 36 CHAPTER THREE.................................................................................................................. 39 BUGANDA TRADITIONAL BELIEFS AND RITUALS ..................................................... 39 3.1 BUGANDA CULTURAL BACKGROUND ................................................................ 39 3.1.1 Geographical location of Buganda......................................................................... 39 3.1.2 Cultural heritage..................................................................................................... 40 3.1.3 Political heritage..................................................................................................... 41 3.1.4 Religious heritage ................................................................................................... 43 3.2. Major traditional beliefs and rituals among the Baganda. ............................................ 44 3.2.1 Glorification of God katonda .................................................................................. 44 2.2.2 “Okusamira” (worship) .......................................................................................... 46 3.2.3 Marriage (Okuwasa)..............................................................................................